83. Loving What You Do with Sports Medicine Physiatrist Monica Rho

Introducing Monica Rho

Today I’m talking to sports medicine physiatrist Dr. Monica Rho about loving what you do. Dr. Rho is the Chief of Musculoskeletal Medicine at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She also serves as a team physician for the US Women’s National Soccer Team.

Her Career Jouney

Monica earned her BA in Psychology at Northwestern University. She then went on to complete her MD at Northwestern as well where she was introduced to the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). This fit perfectly with Monica’s vision of helping female athletes stay healthy in a hands-on and personal way. She completed her PM&R residency at Northwestern and then went to Washington University in St. Louis for a Primary Care Sports Medicine and Interventional Spine Fellowship.

Loving What You Do

Monica shares with us the importance of doing what you love. She feels incredibly lucky to have found the space in medicine that allows her to treat female athletes as humans and not just treat aspects of a disease. As the team physician for the US Women’s National Soccer team, she gets to help female athletes on one of the biggest stages in the world. However, it is just as important to her, as a residency director, to pass on the advice of loving what you do to the next generation of physiatrists.

Inside this episode:

  • Monica’s mission is to take care of female athletes. As a young female athlete she felt like her injuries were dismissed by a male physician. Monica wanted to see a woman sports medicine physician, but there weren’t any at the time. So, she became the female sports medicine specialist whose input she craved at that young age.
  • When Monica found the specialty of PM&R during med school, she found a home. We talk about how meeting the right person can influence your entire career path.
  • When her future mentor offered Monica her fellowship position, Monica thought she was describing the attributes and accomplishments of a different candidate. Monica accepted the job because she wanted to meet and become the person her mentor was describing.
  • The right training environment includes mentors who are invested in your development. 
  • Monica has been a team physician for the US Women’s National Soccer Team, the US Men’s Paralympic Soccer Team, and the Joffrey Ballet.
  • Monica serves as a residency director, team physician, clinician, and academic, which is only possible because of the incredible support system around her. 
  • Through her role as an If/Then ambassador, Monica is helping to change the perception of women in STEM. 
  • Monica makes use of her growth mindset and chooses to view challenges as opportunities to grow. 
  • She encourages others to pursue a path not just for the outcomes, but most importantly, for the chance to do something you love.

Resources

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